Ch.43Rest? (2)

“This came from Sikton’s brain.”

What Divius showed was something like a mass of thin, writhing threads. It resembled a distorted Gordian worm from an old horror story I once heard.

What was unusual was the color. It was shining with a silver light.

“That’s silver.”

“You mean just silver? The precious metal?”

“Yes. The kind used as a magical catalyst or made into ornaments.”

“Is it similar to the brain-hacking devices used by the Silver Tower?”

“I can’t sense any magic from it at all. Yet it… moves. It’s like magic.”

That wasn’t “magical” in a positive sense. It was the kind of word used to describe phenomena beyond normal bounds—something utterly inexplicable and unknown.

Something that wasn’t magic but resembled it. There were many abilities comparable to magic, like martial arts or sainthood, but they had all been overshadowed by magic in recent times.

At this point, if a magician called something “magic-like,” there was only one possibility.

“It’s an extradimensional product, isn’t it?”

Divius nodded.

“It seems this thing crawled into the brain and somehow controlled emotions and perceptions. Demedes’ brain is the same. They probably used a Bacchus saint to intoxicate and disarm him, but…”

The mechanical hand attached to the doctor’s waist extended and brought over the glass container holding Demedes’ corpse.

“Small silver fragments were found in this fellow’s brain too. The other chimeras were probably brainwashed using just sainthood, but since Demedes was an Isar, even in his fallen state, he resisted until the end, so they inserted these silver threads.”

I felt like sighing. Was the Sikton bishop also a kind of Infector? Between the Blasphemia traitors and now this, I’ve been hearing about Infectors unusually often lately.

“So Infectors were hiding within the Order as well. This is an ominous sign.”

“It’s ambiguous to call Sikton an Infector. His body doesn’t have the unique wavelength of extradimensional beings. Most likely, Sikton himself was injected with this by an Infector.”

I understood why Sikton had been so eager to open a gate to the extradimensional realm. Perhaps he had been programmed with orders to create a passage connecting to the other dimension.

An Infector using non-Infector beings to plot conspiracies.

It was truly a remarkable coincidence. The Blasphemia traitors were exactly that kind of Infector, exhibiting the same behavioral patterns.

“Do you have any suspicions?”

What should I do?

My deliberation was brief. I can’t decide something this important on my own.

“I’ll discuss it with the CEO first, then get back to you.”

Normally, sharing information that required security clearance needed a superior’s approval.

***

We need to talk. Come to my room when you see this. That was the message Ortes had sent.

Though there was no refreshing morning sunlight in Etna City, filled with acrid volcanic ash, Carisia’s mood was exceptionally bright.

After completing her morning routine as quickly as possible, she headed to the next room. Ortes was sitting at the desk, examining news from the Ether Network through the holographic projector built into his gauntlet.

“Ah, CEO.”

“You must be enjoying work these days? Calling me in on a holiday.”

The corner of Ortes’ mouth twitched slightly. That was his reaction when he was about to say something like “What are you talking about?” but decided against it.

But Carisia didn’t pay much attention to his reaction.

After all, he was the one who handled the most difficult tasks for Hydra Company, despite complaining about not wanting to work when they were alone.

“Do you remember when I reported about Blasphemia and mentioned the ‘rebel faction’?”

“The Golden Desert Operation participants. You mean the agents who fell into the extradimensional realm while fighting us and returned as Infectors?”

“A kind of extradimensional brainwashing device was implanted in Sikton’s brain. It’s presumed to be the work of an Infector.”

Carisia understood everything Ortes wanted to convey, including the parts he deliberately left unspoken.

The Blasphemia elites who participated in the Golden Desert Operation were secretly working to open a gate to the extradimensional realm.

Ortes then shared what he had learned from Sikton about the Divine Light Order—secrets that couldn’t yet be revealed to the directors.

After hearing everything, Carisia nodded.

“This is actually good news. Let’s hold off on telling the directors for now.”

“How is this good news?”

“Because the Ten Towers have two new enemies. We might be able to execute the White Light destruction plan earlier than expected.”

Carisia’s right hand began twirling her bangs in circles. It was a habit that emerged when she was thinking alone. After her index finger had wrapped her hair around it more than five times, she spoke.

“Using the artificial Ten Commandments as a bomb against the White Light Tower—”

“No.”

Ortes cut off Carisia’s statement sharply. They were showing attitudes they would never display at official Hydra Company gatherings.

“I was joking.”

“It didn’t sound like a joke to me.”

Having eased the tension with her joke, Carisia began calculating the situation coolly. Since Ortes had disguised himself as a secret inspector, information about the Blasphemia rebels had already reached the Ten Towers.

The rebels must have realized their plot was exposed when the branch director they were supposed to meet didn’t show up.

If they were typical Infectors mindlessly trying to destroy everything that constitutes this world, they might be too insane to think rationally. But the Blasphemia traitors seemed to maintain a considerable level of reason…

“When is the Ten Towers busiest?”

“During pan-Tower events. Recently, that would be the Tower listing practical examination at Elysion.”

“That’s when they’ll come.”

A concise sentence with all essential explanations—who, for what purpose—removed. Between the two of them, that was enough to convey meaning.

The rebels were weaker compared to the full might of the Ten Towers. Therefore, they would likely commit a shocking act, such as terrorism, to divert attention when the Ten Towers were at their busiest.

The perpetrators would be puppets injected with some kind of command, like Sikton. Even if they found an agent of the rebel faction who created these puppets, they would have already undergone memory erasure or similar treatment to prevent the discovery of the rebels’ true base.

“Wasn’t Sikton a kind of rehearsal for the puppets they plan to deploy for the terrorism? While also serving as a trap for when the Blasphemia agent came to investigate the Bacchus Order?”

That concluded Carisia’s reasoning.

“…Should we cancel our attendance?”

Ortes asked cautiously. Carisia shook her head.

“Let’s go. We need to see the mighty power of the Ten Towers with our own eyes. You should contact the personnel you were planning to recruit as soon as we arrive.”

Nodding, Ortes took out a crystal relic from his pocket. Carisia pushed it back when he placed it on the table.

After pushing the relic back and forth between them several times, Ortes and Carisia stood up and raised their hands.

The shapes of their outstretched hands differed. Ortes had all five fingers spread wide open—paper. Carisia had a tightly clenched fist—rock.

“…You cheated, didn’t you?”

Carisia had never once beaten Ortes at rock-paper-scissors. Ortes shrugged.

“Either way, you should keep the crystal relic, CEO. If I won fair and square, it’s only natural, and if I cheated, then you’re in more danger than I am for not noticing.”

***

Kine tried hard to calm her trembling heart. It had been two days since she was confined to this hospital room.

The food they served, though bland, was neatly arranged, but she couldn’t bring herself to eat it, not knowing what might be in it.

She hadn’t seen the narrow-eyed man from the first day again. Kine firmly resolved not to waver when she met him again.

Creeeeak—

The closed door opened with a mechanical noise. Behind it stood the narrow-eyed man and…

‘Who is that…?’

A white-haired beauty stood in front of the man. The contrast between her well-pressed black suit and white hair gave her an imposing presence.

“CEO, this is Kine.”

CEO. Kine rolled the word around in her mouth.

So…

‘That person outranks Narrow Eyes?’

“Pleased to meet you, Miss Kine. Please look at this first.”

The CEO, seated in a chair beside the hospital bed, handed over a stack of papers. Complex letters were densely written on them.

Though the Bacchus Order was nomadic, that didn’t mean they lacked education. Kine could easily read the heading of the document.

“Scholarship application?”

She read the next paragraph. Hydra Company, hereinafter “the Company.” Scholarship applicant, hereinafter “the Applicant.”

Below the definitions of terms, there was dense text about the support this “Hydra Company” could provide to Kine.

“What does this mean?”

Kine asked despite knowing what this contract was—a devil’s contract. One that would further concretize the agreement made yesterday.

Her current question was a pitiful resistance to delay that moment, if only slightly.

***

‘Sign quickly. Hurry up.’

I cheered for Kine’s decision.

Kine’s potential had already been proven. In just a year, she could blossom into a talented magician.

If that happens, all the divine investigation work…!

I inwardly rejoiced, imagining a happy future.